Method and apparatus for cutting trees into measured sections

ABSTRACT

An elongated frame carries a headboard at one end, a V-shaped holder with a crossbar adjacent the headboard, and a double Vshaped holder with double crossbars spaced from the headboard a distance equal to the desired lengths of the logs. Tree length logs are supported on the crossbars abutted against the headboard. A chain saw positioned between the V-shaped members of the double V-shaped holder severs the logs. The outside crossbar of the double V-shaped holder is slightly lower than the supported logs so that as the logs are cut the weight of the logs beyond the saw produces an effective downward force to open the cut and prevent binding of the saw. The double V-shaped holder with saw may be adjustable with respect to the backboard to vary the lengths of the severed sections.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING TREES Continuation of application Ser. No. 801,413, Feb. 24, 1969, now abandoned. This application Oct. 23, 1970, Ser. No.

Primary Examiner Donald R. Schran Attorney-Robert L. Harrington ABSTRACT: An elongated frame carries a headboard at one end, a V-shaped holder with a crossbar adjacent the head- INTO MEASURED SECTIONS board, and a double V-shaped holder with double crossbars 8Claims,4Draw1ng Figs. spaced from the headboard a distance equal to the desired U S 143/32 lengths of the logs. Tree length logs are supported on the Crossbars abuned against the headboard. A chain saw p 143/9L'43/46 r d bt h v h d b rm d bl v Int c1 .B27bl7/00 e e ape 6 B27) 29/06 shaped holder severs the logs. The outside crossbar of the dou- Field of Search 143/32, 32 Me vshaped than suppmed so that as the logs are cut the weight of the logs beyond the saw produces an effective downward force to open the cut and prevent binding of the saw, The double V-shaped holder with saw may be adjustable with respect to the backboard to vary the lengths of the severed sections.

ill l i l C I PATENTEUNUV 30 IQYI SHEET 2 OF 2 Train/ll METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING TREES INTO MEASURED SECTIONS This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 801,413, filed Feb. 24, 1969, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to an apparatus useable in the field for easily and rapidly cutting tree length logs into measured sections convenient for hauling and handling at the lumber mill.

Lumber mills have equipment for handling logs automatically but it is typical that the equipment for such automatic handling requires the logs to be a specified length. It is therefore generally necessary to set up a special operation for cutting the tree length logs into the desired sections. This operation is referred to as bucking and can be done either at the mill site or in the field.

The equipment heretofore used at the mill site for bucking has been cumbersome and complex and thus not suitable for transporting it to the field stations. Thus where bucking is done in the field, it is generally done manually. A worker first measures off the lengths, then cuts it into the desired lengths with a chain saw, and finally he loads the severed logs into a truck. By bucking the trees in the field the waste portions of the trees can be trimmed ofi to reduce hauling expenses. However, manual bucking is much slower and requires more manpower than the mill site equipment.

It will thus be understood that a substantial improvement is provided by the present invention which includes an apparatus for bucking that is mobile enough to be easily used in the field while being comparable in efficiency to the heretofore nonmobile mil] site equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a support frame that includes parallel rails. The rails each have a front and rear section that lock together but which can be unlocked and adjusted relative to each other to vary the length of the frame. A headboard and front support member are mounted on the front sections of the parallel rails and a rear supporting member and chain saw are mounted on the rear sections of the parallel rails. The operator of a grapple-type loader picks up the tree length logs that are dragged to the field station and positions them on the support members and against the head board. The operator, by remote control, operates the chain saw to sever the logs and then loads the sections into a waiting truck. The remaining portions of the logs are then picked up by the grapples and moved into position on the support members for cutting a second section. Only one operator is required and the entire operation can be performed at a much faster rate than manually.

Other advantages will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view with portions broken away of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a view showing the mechanism for operating the chain saw illustrated on the apparatus of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a main support for the illustrated apparatus is provided by a pair of front rail members that are held in spaced parallel relationship by an end member 12 and a crossmember 14. A pair of rear rail members 16 are held in spaced parallel relationship by an end member 18 and crossmember 20. The front and rear rail members are telescopically adjustable and they are adapted to be fixed at a desired position by aligning bolt holes 22 provided in the rail members and inserting bolts 24 through the aligned holes.

A headboard 26 is mounted on the end member 12. Said headboard includes standards 28 with top and bottom horizontal braces 30 supporting parallel rods 32. The rods 32 are spaced so as to prevent a log from going through the headboard while permitting substantial visual observance of the bucking operation through the headboard. A pair of cylindrical bars 34 are afi'rxed to the crossmember l4 and to the headboard 26 through spacing fins 36 to fonn a V-shaped front stanchion. A cylindrical crossbar 38 extending between cylindrical bars 34 provides a bottom support for the V-shaped stanchion for supporting the ends of logs abutted against the headboard.

A second pair of cylindrical bars 40 are affixed to the crossmember 20 of rear rail members 16, and a third pair of cylindrical bars 42 are afi'rxed to end member 18. The two pairs of cylindrical bars 40 and 42 are cross braced to form a double V-stanchion. A cylindrical crossbar 44 between the cylindrical bars 40 provides a bottom support for the double V-shaped stanchion. A cylindrical crossbar 46 is provided between the cylindrical bars 42 lower than crossbar 44 to define a secondary bottom support, the function of which will be explained later.

A severing mechanism is mounted between the pairs of cylindrical bars 40 and 42. The severing mechanism includes a chain saw 50 comprising a saw chain 54 mounted on a saw bar 48. A protective shield 62 mounted between cylindrical bars 40 and 42 encases the saw bar and saw chain when the chain saw is in its inoperative position. The chain saw 50 is pivotally mounted to a brace 52 that is mounted to the outside wall of the protective shield 62, as shown in FIG. 3. A hydraulic actuator 56, also mounted to the outside wall of the protective shield 62 includes a piston rod 58 fixed to a flange 60 on the chain saw 50.

OPERATION FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the operation of the apparatus described above. As shown in FIG. I, a grapple loader 64 mounted on a truck 66 can be used for positioning several tree length logs 68 on cylindrical crossbar 38 and 44 and with the ends thereof abutted against the headboard 26. The grapple 69 of the grapple loader 64 retains its grip on the logs 68 to hold them in place on the crossbars. The operator of the loader who is positioned on the platform 70, starts the chain saw by remote control (which control can be any of a number of well-known remote control systems), the power for which is supplied by a battery 72 and the hydraulic actuator 56 is then engaged by the operator to pivot the saw chain toward the logs. The cutting operation is shown in FIG. 2. As will be noted, with the logs held down by the grapple on crossbars 38 and 44, the trailing end of the logs are suspended over the rearmost crossbar 46. Thus as the chain cuts through the logs, the weight of the suspended end urges opening of the cut to prevent binding of the saw. As the cut is completed, the trailing section of the logs are dropped onto the rearmost crossbar 46.

When the out has been made, the operator activates the hydraulic actuator 56 to return the saw bar and chain to the protective shield 62. The loader is then employed to load the sectioned logs onto the truck. The trailing sections of the logs are then gripped by the loader and moved into position for cutting another measured section.

It will be noted that each successive section that is cut will be the same length as the first section. This length is determined by the distance from the headboard to the saw bar. The headboard is mounted on the front section of the rails whereas the saw bar is mounted on the rear section of the rails. The two rail sections are telescopically adjustable and thus the above distance is varied by readjusting these sections: i.e., by removing the bolts 24 and realigning the bolt holes 22.

A rigid web 74 is attached between the rails 16 of the rear section of the main support and channel sections 76 are welded to the web 74. The web 74 and channel sections 76 are located at a position that is approximately the center of gravity of the apparatus. The total weight of the apparatus can be easily provided well below the limits of the common grapple loaders. The channel sections 76 provide the means for the grapple 69 to grab hold of the apparatus which can thus be lifted, loaded onto the truck, and hauled to a new location.

The apparatus described above is intended merely to illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and not to limit it. Numerous variations and modifications will apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the intended scope of the invention which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus adapted for use with a grapple loader whereby tree length logs are positioned by the grapple loader in the apparatus and held there while the logs are severed into measured sections, said apparatus comprising; a base having opposed ends and sides and adapted to be supported on the ground, (a log end-positioning means on one of the base), an upright front stanchion mounted on the base adjacent the log end-positioning means for supporting the ends of the logs aligned with the log end-positioning means, an upright rear stanchion mounted on the base independent of and spaced from the front stanchion whereby a grapple can be inserted between the stanchions to force the logs while being held in the grapple onto the two stanchions, power-operated severing means mounted on the base at a determined distance from the log end-positioning means and rearward of the rear stanchion, and actuating means capable of remote control operation for actuating the severing means for severing the logs held down on the stanchions by the grapple into measured sections, and wherein the front and rear stanchions are comprised of upright bars for laterally supporting the logs and horizontal crossbars between the uprights to provide a bottom support for the logs.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein gripping means are provided on the base, said gripping means adapted to be gripped by a grapple loader for lifting and moving the apparatus to a different location.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the base is comprised of parallel rails and said gripping means is comprised of a rigid web connected between the rails and positioned intermediate of the front and rear stanchions, and lip portions on the web that are adapted to be gripped by the jaws of the grapple.

4. An apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the base is comprised of parallel rails having end members and crossmembers for maintaining the rails in rigid spaced relationship, said parallel rails having a front section and a rear section, said leg end-positioning means being a headboard against which the log ends are abutted, said from section supporting the headboard and front stanchion, and said rear section supporting the rear stanchion and severing means, said front and rear rail sections being telescopically adjustable relative to each other for adjusting the distance between the headboard and severing means for adjusting the length of the severed sections of the logs.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upright bars are formed into a V and horizontal crossbars between the uprights provide bottom support for the logs.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the severing means is a chain saw pivotally mounted to the base and said actuating means is comprised of a hydraulic actuator for pivoting the chain saw from a retracted position outside the V of the upright bars down through the logs positioned in the stanchions.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the rear stanchion is comprised of two pairs of upright bars forming a tandem double V with the bottom supporting horizontal crossbar of the rear stanchion provided in the front V of the double-V upright bars, and including a third horizontal crossbar across the uprights of the back V spaced downwardly from the bottom supporting crossbars, said chain saw being positioned for severing the logs at a point between the front, and back-V upright bars of the tandem double V whereby as the logs are severed the weight of the overhanging unsupported portions of the logs urge opening of the cut to prevent bindin of the chain saw until the completed cut perrnrts the over anging portion to drop onto said third horizontal crossbar to be supported thereon.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein a protective shield is provided between the front and back uprights of the rear stanchion to encase the chain saw while in a retracted position.

* i i i I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 3,5 7 Dated November '30, 1971 Inventor(s) Karl n It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 15, cancel the parenthesis around "a log end-poaitioning means on one of the base"; after "one" should read end Signed and sealed this 7th day of November 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOT'ISCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 RM F'O-105D (10-69) v u s. GOVERNMENY PRINTING ornc: 1 mu 0-3564 

1. An apparatus adapted for use with a grapple loader whereby tree length logs are positioned by the grapple loader in the apparatus and held there while the logs are severed into measured sections, said apparatus comprising; a base having opposed ends and sides and adapted to be supported on the ground, (a log endpositioning means on one of the base), an upright front stanchion mounted on the base adjacent the log end-positioning means for supporting the ends of the logs aligned with the log endpositioning means, an upright rear stanchion mounted on the base independent of and spaced from the front stanchion whereby a grapple can be inserted between the stanchions to force the logs while being held in the grapple onto the two stanchions, poweroperated severing means mounted on the base at a determined distance from the log end-positioning means and rearward of the rear stanchion, and actuating means capable of remote control operation for actuating the severing means for severing the logs held down on the stanchions by the grapple into measured sections, and wherein the front and rear stanchions are comprised of upright bars for laterally supporting the logs and horizontal crossbars between the uprights to provide a bottom support for the logs.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein gripping means are provided on the base, said gripping means adapted to be gripped by a grapple loader for lifting and moving the apparatus to a different location.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the base is comprised of parallel rails and said gripping means is comprised of a rigid web connected between the rails and positioned intermediate of the front and rear stanchions, and lip portions on the web that are adapted to be gripped by the jaws of the grapple.
 4. An apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the base is comprised of parallel rails having end members and crossmembers for maintaining the rails in rigid spaced relationship, said parallel rails having a front section and a rear section, said log end-positioning means being a headboard against which the log ends are abutted, said front section supporting the headboard and frOnt stanchion, and said rear section supporting the rear stanchion and severing means, said front and rear rail sections being telescopically adjustable relative to each other for adjusting the distance between the headboard and severing means for adjusting the length of the severed sections of the logs.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upright bars are formed into a V and horizontal crossbars between the uprights provide bottom support for the logs.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the severing means is a chain saw pivotally mounted to the base and said actuating means is comprised of a hydraulic actuator for pivoting the chain saw from a retracted position outside the V of the upright bars down through the logs positioned in the stanchions.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the rear stanchion is comprised of two pairs of upright bars forming a tandem double V with the bottom supporting horizontal crossbar of the rear stanchion provided in the front V of the double-V upright bars, and including a third horizontal crossbar across the uprights of the back V spaced downwardly from the bottom supporting crossbars, said chain saw being positioned for severing the logs at a point between the front, and back-V upright bars of the tandem double V whereby as the logs are severed the weight of the overhanging unsupported portions of the logs urge opening of the cut to prevent binding of the chain saw until the completed cut permits the overhanging portion to drop onto said third horizontal crossbar to be supported thereon.
 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein a protective shield is provided between the front and back uprights of the rear stanchion to encase the chain saw while in a retracted position. 